We, the undersigned employees of The Current, are proud to come together as a union.
For the past 15 years, The Current has established itself as a trusted source for music discovery and connection—a service that feels more vital now than ever. Yet despite our station’s strong ratings and industry awards, our reluctance to evolve has bred inequity and pain. Our station consistently wields its influence to center white voices and narratives, effectively ignoring the racism and other forms of oppression that plague our community. Meanwhile, our staff has become less racially diverse over time. Through it all, Minnesota Public Radio has systematically silenced The Current’s women employees, perpetuated pay inequity, and failed to protect The Current’s hosts from physical and mental harm.
The Current is at a major turning point in its existence, with several influential positions waiting to be filled and a persistent identity crisis in need of resolution. We believe that it is time for a transformation, and we take this step in solidarity with our colleagues at Classical MPR, MPR News, and APM Reports; the community members and artists who have told us that The Current’s behavior has harmed them; and with all survivors of abuse and discrimination.
We are seeking fair and equitable compensation; an actionable and measurable plan to diversify the staff; consistency and transparency in employee discipline and termination; and a seat at the table for the decisions that affect the direction of our station. We therefore choose SAG-AFTRA as our union for the purposes of collectively negotiating our pay, benefits and working conditions.
We request that you voluntarily recognize this petition as demonstration that SAG-AFTRA represents a majority of employees in a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, and that you meet and confer with us in good faith to begin the collective-bargaining process.
We are dedicated to building a healthy and sustainable future for The Current, and we’re inviting Minnesota Public Radio to work with us to transform our workplace into one where everyone feels respected, trusted and safe.